Getting the Job Done Right - Supervise or Do It Yourself

When we bought our first home in Ottawa, we were told by some of the neighbours that the previous owner was a she bear on getting work done properly in her home. She supervised workers directly and watched that the job was done right - right according to her very specific and demanding requirements. That was a lesson to learn. There should be no shame in being home when work is being done, watching that the materials you wanted are used, that the workers are doing the job you are paying them to do.

In that home, we had a water flood that destroyed the hardwood floors. We hired a well known company and then had to move out when the floor was being installed. One night, just before the top varnish (?) was to be applied, we walked back to our house to check. There were two workers, sitting in our kitchen, feet up on the chairs, smoking. The windows were open and the floor sanding dust was swirling. WE SHOULD HAVE STAYED!!! After they went back to work and we left, they applied the sealant OVER the dust. They never swept or vacuumed it up!!! We had to complain. The floors were touched up but, unlike the previous owner, we never got the quality of work that we wanted nor the floor that we thought we had paid for. When we sold the house, I still was telling people of the very poor service we received from that company.

If you have work being done in your home - stay around to ensure you are getting what you want and what you paid for. If you can't do that, try doing some of the work yourself. We are our own worse critics and it is likely that the work you do (even if it is just to prep the house for painting) will meet your high standards.

Very good advise Valerie. Sometimes we want to give the responsibility over to those working the job, and on rare occasion, they mess it all up. Being there might not mean you know what's supposed to be done, but those workers don't know that you might not know! ;-)

Who would think you'd have to monitor common sense being applied right along with that varnish? Good grief! Paying attention and devoting time to work being done within your home only makes sense. For many reasons. You provide a a great example of exactly why ...

Carla: There are times when common sense is the the difference between a good job and a shabby job.

Gene: I came back from working and found that the painter had finished. We are putting all the furniture and plug covers etc back right now. The job is so good. Reaffirms my belief in people who care about their work.

Valerie, no one will respect you home as much as you will. Last year I was having the house painted and left for a while, when I came back one of the painters had driven his car onto my lawn under some trees so he could have his lunch and listen to the radio in the shade. The painter was fired off the job right there.

Valerie - Love the new photo! I bet everytime you looked down at the floor you were reminded of the shoddy work that company did. How frustrating. It takes a little effort, but staying to oversee that a job gets done well is sage advice.

Some things are trivial enough to be delegated and they should be. Some things are definately not and need to be babysat or done on your own. The important thing is to know the difference and make good use of your time to maximize profit!

I always drop in several times....unexpected. Most of the time, they are aware that I am a good pipeline to additional business, so they are on their best behavior. I have learned to know what to do myself and what to hire out. I will not take apart the washer, but I might replace a garbage disposal!

Valerie ~ it's shocking that those workers were so lazy they applied varnish over dust -- what buffoons! I agree that something being on site, or having a superb supervisor watching the crew, is often the only way to make sure the job is done right.

Valerie - I think supervision or oversight is an important component to home improvement projects. I have a neighbor, who wanted to avoid the stress of having their kitchen and a bathroom updated and remodeled. There thinking was they wouldn't have use of the facilities, so just go on vacation. When they came back, they found a very unpleasing result. It wasn't quite a disaster, but close to it!

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